Beguiled by Claire Delacroix

Author:Claire Delacroix
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Deborah A. Cooke
Published: 2014-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

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III

“I know more than you ever want to, Gerta honey. I really hope that you don’t have any affection for Sigismund…”

“Not I!”

“Good, because this guy’s bad to the bone, you know. He’s going to kill his own son one of these days.” He grimaced. “He’s not really a primo catch, if you know what I mean.”

Gerta was not surprised by these tidings. “His father Gundobad is mad and violent,” she whispered, fearing to be overheard even so far from listening ears.

“You’ve nailed it in one. Not everything passed from father to son is worth keeping.” To Gerta’s relief, her companion left that notion alone, for it was troubling to find herself in such vehement agreement with him. “So, back to our story. God thought his new work was a triumph and so He wanted the angels to serve people.”

“So, they would be the serfs!” Gerta shook her head. “This is some God who desires only such service from his creations.”

“Don’t all gods desire service?”

“Respect, this they all demand. Flattery and offerings, not slavish obedience.” Gerta took a deep breath, seeking the means to explain the difference. “The old gods seek deference, but they do not command mortals. They can do deeds to aid or to plague men, which is why their aid is requested, but they do not dictate our choices.”

“What about fate?”

“Who can say? It might be that the nature of a man so shapes his choices that his destiny can be determined from his birth.”

“Character and deed perfectly entangled,” her companion mused. “But then, who created the character of the individual?”

“Who can say? There are mysteries not ours to examine.”

“So, it might have been your destiny to come along with me? This journey might be the culmination of everything you’ve learned so far in this life?”

“I do not doubt that you have tricked me,” Gerta said sternly. “If naught else, you did not reveal your nature truly to me, not before I had no choice but to continue.”

“You could turn back. It’s not that far to the village. You could be there by sunset.”

Gerta glanced over her shoulder, half-tempted. They had climbed almost to the pass through the mountains and she was breathing heavily from her exertions. In truth, they had come farther than she had realized, for she had been so interested in their conversation. The sky was a clear blue, the sunlight making the ice sparkle like gems.

Her father was far behind her, the father who had betrayed her. So was her betrothed, the man who would rape her daily once it was his right.

Gerta turned her back upon the valley she had come to think of as her home and began to climb onward. It was surprisingly easy to do. She recalled the blue of Cai’s eyes and felt an unwelcome thrill of anticipation. The path became steeper from here and she bent herself to the task of climbing, savoring her own strength. She felt alive as she had never before.

“Not going back?” her companion taunted.

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